Fish stringer



May 11, 1948 M. J. SMKIBLESKI 2,441,450

FISH STRINGER Filed Sept. 27, 1946 avwe/wfo'v MATT J.SMIGLESKI Patented May 11, 1948 Y UNITED," STATES PA ENT, oFFieE Matt J; Minm Application September 27,

, 3 Claims. (01. 224-1) My invention relates to a fish stringer.

Animportant object of'the invention is to provide a fish stringer adapted for attachment to the gunwale of a boat, and designed toprevent the possible loss of fish from such stringer,while they are trailing from the boat and submergedin the water.

A further object is to provide a fish stringing device which is sturdy, durable, and relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objectsand advantages of theinvention will be apparent during the course or the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming apart of this application, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 is asideelevation of the fish stringer embodying my invention, parts in section,

Figure 2-i-s abottom plan vieworthe same, parts in section, and parts omitted,

Figure 3 is a vertical transverse section taken on line Ste-3 of- Figure -1;-parts omitted, s howing the needle and chain being passed through one vertical passage, and,

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a sleeve and associated elements.-

In the drawings, where, for the purpose of illustration, is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 5 designates the upper horizontal plate of an L-shaped clamp bracket 6, which includes a vertical depending web or end plate I. The upper plate 5 has a preferably circular opening 8 near its outer end, for a purpose to be described. Suitably rigidly secured to the upper surface of the plate 5, at its transverse center, and near its inner end, by means of welding, or the like, is a vertically upstanding tubular needle holder or sleeve 9, which is open at its upper end. Rigidly secured to the end plate I, by means of welding, or the like, are transversely spaced cleats l0. These cleats are arranged near the lower end of the end plate I, and are adapted for clamping engagement against the inner surface of the gunwale ll of a boat, or the like.

Spaced beneath the upper plate 5, near the outer end of the same, adjacent to the opening 8, and having its longitudinal axis parallel to the longitudinal center line of the upper plate 5, is an internally screw-threaded tubular sleeve l2. This sleeve !2 has a preferably integral vertical, longitudinal web I3, extending for substantially the full length of the sleeve, and extending upwardly above the center of the sleeve l2,'to

lever or handle: l lfinear' 194G, Serial'No. 699,690

2 terminate 'fiusl'r with the lower surface of the upper p'latel5. The. vertical web I3 supports the sleeve. t1; and, partitionsor divides the opening 3 into separate. vertical passages, through the upper plate 5, for a purpose tribe/described. Preferably: formed integral with the vertical web [3, and having their upper surfaces flush with the upper longitudinak edge of: the web? it, are longitudinally spaced preterablyurectangular horizontal mounting ears M, which are rigidly secured to thelower surface of the upper plate 5, at: opposite sides of; the opening it, by means of welding or the like.

The internally screw-threaded sleeve. t2 "recei ves a screw-threaded clam-p. screw a clamping foot I6, and carrying a transverse its outer end,

A flexible stringer chain W, or the like, is provided, one end of which has attached to it a suitable needle- HF, adapted for being removably' held-- within the needle holder 9. The. needle IK has a sharppointed' end 2 0, which engages upon thetop'su-rtace of the'upperplate 5, when the needle in the needle holder; The opposite end of the stringer chain 18 carries a transverse rod or handle 2|, adapted for being seated in an elongated semi-cylindrical groove or recess '22, formed in the top surface of the upper plate 5, and extending longitudinally of the upper plate 5, and across one of the vertical passages formed by the vertical web l3 and the opening 8. The chain I8 is adapted for being looped downwardly and about the tubular sleeve [2, so that it passes through both of the vertical passages in the upper plate 5.

The operation and use of the fish stringer is as follows:

The device is clamped to the gunwale or side of a boat, by means of the clamp screw l5 and clamp bracket 6. The cleats l0 will tend to dig slightly into the inner surface of the gunwale, and thereby rigidly secure the fish stringer to the boat. With the device so arranged, the tubular sleeve 12 and associated elements, extend outwardly from the gunwale or side of the boat and over the water.

The needle I9 is taken out of the needle holder 9 and is passed together with the chain I8 downwardly through and out of the vertical passage to the right of the web [3, whereupon the needle is inserted through the gills and mouth of the fish, in the usual manner for stringing fish. After the fish has been pushed backwardly from the needle l9 onto and along the chain 13 to the desired extent, the needle I9 is passed I15, having 4 It is to be understood that the form of my in-. t vention herewith shown and described, is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and

that various changes in the shape, size, and ar-, rangement 01 parts, may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the subioined claims. Having thus described my invention, I claim: 1. A fish stringer, comprising a clamp bracket having an opening, a screw-threaded sleeve associated with the clamp bracket and adjacent to the opening, a clamp screw for engagement within the screw-threaded sleeve, means for rigidly securing the screw-threaded sleeve to the clamp bracket and for dividing the opening into separate passages, a needle holder secured to the clamp bracket, and a stringer chain including a needle at one end and a transverse rod at the opposite end passing through the separate passages, the transverse rod being supported upon the top surface of said bracket and extending across one of said passages, the arrangement being such that when the needle is held within the needle holder and the transverse rod is supported upon the clamp bracket, the chain extends downwardly through the separate passages to form a depending loop. V

2. A fish stringer, comprising a clamp bracket having an opening, a screw-threaded sleeve arranged adjacent to the opening, a clamp screw for engaging within the screw threaded sleeve, a vertical web secured to the screw-threaded sleeve for supporting the same and secured to the clamp bracket and dividing the opening into separate passages, a needle holder associated with the clamp bracket, and a stringer chain including a needle at one end and a transverse rod at the opposite end passing through the separate passages, the transverse rod being supported upon the top surface of said bracket and extending across one of said passages, the arrangement being such that when the needle is supported in the needle holder and the transverse rod is supported upon the clamp bracket, the chain extends downwardly through the separate passages for forming a loop.

3. A fish stringer, comprising a clamp bracket, having an opening, a screw-threaded sleeve arranged beneath the clamp bracket and adjacent to the openin a clamp screw for engagement within the screw-threaded sleeve, a vertical web secured'to the screw-threaded sleeve for attaching the same to the clamp bracket and for dividing the opening into separate vertical passages, an upstanding tubular needle holder secured to the clamp bracket, and a flexible stringer element including a needle at one end and a transverse rod at the opposite end passing through the separate passages, the transverse rod being supported upon the top surface of said bracket and extending across one of said passages, the arrangement being such that when the needle is supported within the needle holder, and the transverse rod is supported upon the clamp bracket the chain extends downwardly through the separate vertical passages forming a depending loop.

MA'IT J. SMIGLESKI.

REFERENCES CITED- The following references are of record in the file of this patent: 

